UK Blues Festival – Winter Gardens, Blackpool – 2^nd– 4^th February 2024

Having had a Blues-Rock education that consisted largely of muddy fields, biker rallies and a choice between Engine and Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, the grandeur and opulence of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens comes as a whole new experience.  With a line up of 40 acts across 4 stages and a mix of the unknown, the rising, the established and a couple of legends, there were always going to be a few choices to consider, opportunities to miss, discoveries to make and as it turned out – some bloody big surprises, along with more variations on The Blues than a pick n mix at your local musical emporium – we might all have started off with “woke up this morning” – but we’ve gone in a fair few directions since then.

Never having managed to catch Brave Rival and with seemingly half the crowd wearing their t-shirts, both interest and expectations were high.  Greeted by an enthusiastic front of stage throng, they were straight in there – no messing, powerful, energetic and expressive.  Presumably booked well in advance of the event, with them leaving a fast-ascending vapour trail through the current scene, they opened main stage proceedings in the magnificent Empress Ballroom with what could easily have been a headline set.  For the uninitiated, a twin vocal attack, an ever-moving cast of characters and inevitably, as this is a Blues Festival, some guitar mastery that wouldn’t disgrace Gary Moore – and on one occasion gave the singers the chance to park themselves on the drum riser for a well-deserved rest.  From straight ahead rock, a little funk and some classic blues licks – they were loved!

As the festival is intended to showcase the range of Blues related music, Cardinal Black provided a contrast in a very positive manner, more melodic and relaxed and with a big central presence and tasteful keys – and as the theme of the weekend emerged – every band seems to have a great guitarist, on this occasion, spending perhaps a little more time at the body end of his instrument than perhaps health and safety recommends.  Back together after a brush with the big time (via Guns ‘N’ Roses management apparently) they closed a fine set with a big building finale leading to a party piece where the PA was cut, leaving just THAT voice and it still managed to fill the cavern of the venue and brought on the second standing ovation of the day – and it wasn’t even teatime.

Over to the Blues Matters Stage where The DC Blues Band was offering a spirited rendition of Who Do You Love with their set being interrupted by an unspecified medical incident and back to the main stage for a legend spot from Colosseum, to list current members past bands would take more room than the internet contains.  If you weren’t already familiar with at least some of their output, you could probably deduce the prog rock leanings from the size of the drum kit – but if this was a legends spot – it was also a band of legends – led from the front by Chris Farlowe – taking us through a variety of classics – including the inevitable and much welcomed Elegy and a hark back to the roots of the members with a heartfelt rendition of Stormy Monday Blues.  As you might expect, some fabulous guitar from Clem Clempson, but less obviously, saxophone very much to the fore – yet another variant in what was becoming an eclectic feast within a genre.

A quick break for a (very reasonably priced and tasty meal in the bistro – these things are important to know…) my new friends Colin and Eric recommended the Terraplane Blues Band – it deepened our friendship!

Which leads us all to the Bonham-Bullick Band and even before their much anticipated appearance, rumours were circulating of something special greeting the audience – but to focus solely on that would be to take away from an excellent set – with both the voice and guitar ranging from moody and atmospheric to powerfully soulful – and a band that shone like stars in their own right. With a massive presence waiting in the wings another word for Deborah, who not so much ‘moves like Jagger’, but more akin to Janis and even seems to go to the same place, except with a band 100 times tighter than Big Brother ever were! It’s not a lazy comparison but an expression of genuine enjoyment!   But wait – who is this stood by the mixing desk, taking it all in before disappearing backstage – it looks as though the whispers rang with truth as a certain Mr Robert Plant emerged onto the stage to the delight of the 150 or so lucky audience members.  Having paid tribute to the influence of the blues on his musical journey, he reminded us where it had taken him, launching into a classic  Zeppelin sandwich of The Lemon Song and Ramble On with the filling being a Beatles medley of Money and Twist And Shout – all served with sides of harmonica and banter from the man himself – well you didn’t think you would get away without a mention for Wolverhampton. All these shenanigans involved a combination of the Bonham Bullick Band and members of Robert’s current project Saving Grace. 

A big and positive shout out to Brave Rival was a nice touch (more of that later) and before the pedants pile on – credit to Barret Strong for originally writing Money and Phil Medley and Bert Berns (aka Russell) for the masterpiece that is Twist And Shout!  If the organisers are able to persuade their surprise star to return for either the Folk or Blues weekends next year – the ticket office will no doubt see some heavy traffic.

Before we leave Blackpool for the night, just a quick mention for Eric Bibb, performing on the main stage at the same time to a much larger audience, a snatched view in the interests of fairness did confirm that he was operating at an optimal level as he continues to wed blues heritage and contemporary performance – an example and an inspiration as ever.

Saturday was dragged screaming and kicking to blues-rock heaven by the return of Brave Rival for an intimate set on the much smaller acoustic stage – predictably it was standing room only and a nice touch to return the favour of last night’s praise from the master with a stunning version of Whole Lotta Love with the set followed by a much deserved 5 minute standing ovation.  Part of the aim of the curated line up is to ensure the future of the tradition by nurturing the headliners of the future – it would be a safe bet of anyone’s £1000 that Brave Rival will be ending the night rather than starting it in the not-too-distant future.

Over at the Main Stage, Crow Black Chicken gave us the day’s first feet on the monitors moments and the dirtiest bass sound this side of a Motörhead gig, pairing it nicely with some tasty slide guitar.

Sadly, the multistage format meant that not everything and everyone could be covered.  Long Road Home’s finale intrigued but the band will have to be caught another day. ATB regulars Jimmy Regal And The Royals were straight in with some heavy-duty harmonica – more instrumentally focussed than many – but hey, variety is the spice of the blues life! Half Moon Panic, solid and entertaining, even managed to work what seemed to be an anti-anxiety message into their set courtesy of their song Breathe – ample [proof that the Blues can be good for your health – thanks guys!

Mississippi McDonald offered another contrast. Tasteful and laid back -and taking the advice of the previous band, let the music breathe – as sometimes a well bent note can say as much as a full octave at speed! 

With blues so often all about the guitar – it was so nice to see a bass player throw some of the best moves and shapes of the weekend.  She could have worn every coat in the house and still stayed cool as she and the drummer played with smiles on their faces as they gave John Montana the room to explore what looked like every inch of his fretboard!

Different again, The Cinelli  Brothers had an organ right up front – their links to rock are obvious but the soul roots of the blues are all too often overlooked and perhaps more obvious in recent years than in the 70s roots of blues-rock.  That said, they set about exploring as many aspects of the genre as they could in the time allowed – with echoes of Santana, though I never remember Carlos as being big on harmonica. Drum led and no reliance on the bass and vocal duties shared across the front line, there was an almost spiritual feel about some of their offerings – yes, we liked them!!

Over on the Blues Matters Stage,  Redfish Blues Band seemed to be having the time of their lives – in particular the keys player who was let loose and got lost in the music.

Speaking as we were of future headlines and stars in the ascendency, another ATB fave, Elles Bailey was straight off the stage to commune with the audience, asking for some Rock and Roll and then delivering just that, much of it in a country blues rock style.  Never mind moves like Jagger or Janis, just like Guitar George knows all the chords Elles knows all the moves.  More than any of the artists on show over the weekend she carries the promise of a more mainstream crossover.  Safe to say she will wow the summer crowds at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival – the folk festival that isn’t a folk festival!  Seemingly delighted to be back on the stage after a break and with the promise of a new album on the way – there was the opportunity to visit some roots with the likes of Try A Little Tenderness.  Nice to see Demi Marriner adding a little extra vocal class into the mix as well! This being Blackpool the set ended with Elles bringing us sunshine as she channelled her inner Eric and Ernie.  My table neighbours Mark and Marie used one word to sum up the last hour.  “Magic’!” they said and who could disagree?

Blues Matters gave us Catfish and if the Blues celebrates its survivors, then these deserve all the praise they get – not just for the music but also for having 2 members beat the Big C.  Quite a contrast within the band as well, with guitar played apparently effortlessly, almost nonchalantly but mightily effectively by Matt Long coupled with the preternaturally active fingers of Adam Pyke who used all 6 strings of his bass to great effect.

When Rivers Meet turned in the expected headline set with a surprisingly staccato feel.  An amazing rise to headline status for the duo that only started touring in 2019 and lost almost 2 years to some virus or other – though the time in isolation was not spent idly, as we were treated the results in what has been described as a ‘purist’s dream’, as they combine both all the right historic and contemporary ingredients of both blues and rock.

Sunday came around and once again the dreaded bus replacement service deprived me of a reunion with Man, with whom I have failed to coincide since way back in the 70s, so it came as no consolation to be informed that I had missed a treat. 

A special mention for the John Angus Band – who reminded us why we love the music in the first place.  Coming on like the band you wanted to be in when you heard your first power chords and glimpsed the effect that a decent head of hair and a pair of leather trousers could have – they looked classically mad, bad and dangerous to know – having a good time with their mates and making music too – and you wanted to be invited to whatever party they were going to after the gig! Musically they lived up to the part they looked and had the dance floor filling from the second song onwards.  A reminder of when guitars were axes.  Their album inserts have a nice touch – with photos of the band as they were at 16 – and you know what  – all the above still applies.  There is an element of knowing as well – the final epic saw the audience invited to sit cross-legged on the floor, though many decided that it was too risky as getting up again could have proved tricky.

Having been told that I really had to check out Connor Selby (recently seen supporting Joanne Shaw Taylor) being the obedient kind, I did exactly as I was told and felt my world was better for the experience.  When a man introduces a song as being called – Out Of Luck you know this is a man who knows the blues – surely the most Blues title of any blues title.  In real contrast to John Angus this was a really relaxed, chilled affair.  Jazz stylings added to a sophisticated feel music for a late night in with your main squeeze and the lights down low!  Altogether, a love letter to the blues – which could sum up the weekend really!

Need a livener after a smooch around the dance floor?  You are unlikely to get better than Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse.  Are they Blues, are they vaudeville, an ever-moving circus of musical ideas – or simply a good time that it is impossible to resist – all this, and a keytar named Cynthia!  File under Blew The Roof Off.  Having seen the name around and about and who couldn’t help but wonder, my curiosity lasted less than the length of the first song and spent the rest of the time enjoying.  Don’t let the fun and games cover some fine musicianship and excellent crowd interaction – we danced; we sang, in what must have been the best time anyone had that weekend with their clothes on.  If this is what the end of the world feels like, bring it on!!

Sadly, all good things come to a dilemma!  GA-20 on the main stage, over from the USA and offering powerful updates on classic Chicago Blues, or the UK’s very own Climax Blues Band.  After a good flavour of GA-20, the rest of the evening was spent at the Blues Matters Stage being reunited with Climax, and having not seen them since 1977, it was a delight to find that we have both weathered well, traded youth for experience and had some parts replaced.  With no original members left, there could be a discussion as to when a band is not a band – but musically it was like meeting up with an old friend and carrying on where you left off nearly 40 years ago!  To be fair 3 members have been in since at least 1991, so longer than many a marriage. With tasty saxophone, stylish funk and a full dance floor helping bring the weekend to a more than satisfactory conclusion, there was still time for some fine new material to remind us that it isn’t all about the hits.  In fact, despite the breadth and depth of musical offerings over the weekend we had only heard one top ten smasheroonie in whole 3 days.

So, takeaways from the event?  Fabulous setting, impressive venues, great music, never seen so many Gibson SGs in one place as well as more harmonicas than a Bob Dylan convention.  Along with that, just how friendly everyone was – pass someone between stages or in corridors and you are almost guaranteed you shared a smile and a quick mention for the reasonably priced food and drink in the bistro, none of your festival rip off nonsense – and a chance for a chat with table mates – all of whom were universally positive about all aspects of the Winter Gardens experience – and clean toilets, don’t forget the clean toilets!  But the final words can go to my new friends Colin and Eric, who concluded that, of all the bands they had been treated to over the weekend, while they enjoyed some more than others, there was no one that they wouldn’t want to see again.  Winner!

Apparently, the event has already been scheduled for next year – same Blues time, same Blues place, so if you want your musical life illuminating and some towering performances – see you there!

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